Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Feb 5, 2022 23:00:37 GMT
What if also overseas Commonwealth governments had insisted on buying British?
They "DID" .... or at least they "TRIED TO" (overseas commonwealth government insistence in favor of the UK) .... in the case of NZ and as I'll take the scenic route to try'n explain below.
First let me say anyone whom knows NZ (and NZ'rs in particular) will probably be aware we're a pretty "stubborn and independent mob" whom don't give in to (or take lightly to) being threatened/pushed around .... as many have learned both personally and historically
Governments/Politicians often influence and manipulate what industry and people believe and get, but, it's people and industry that influence what governments/politicians can ultimately do .... within the free world at least and perhaps barring some notable historic and recent examples
"In NZ", and prior to 1977, we had 2 government owned airlines. NZNAC/"NATIONAL AIRWAYS CORPORATION" which flew exclusively NZ domestic routes only, and TEAL/"TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD" (prior to 1965 ... after which it became AIR NZ or as one bright-spark Australian airline executive, during the mid 1950's, once branded it .... "TAKE ELECTRA's AND LIKE-IT") and which was NZ's international air carrier.
From 1939, and prior to 1955, British aircraft types (of course) .... in the form of SHORTS flying boats .... constituted TEAL's international fleet despite these aircraft being "totally inadequate" for the type of operations demanded of them (trans-Tasman and Pacific Island servicing from NZ which imposing real strains upon these aircraft). TEAL began its move to land-based aircraft during the mid 1950's .... acquiring DC-6A's when the assets of BCPA ("BRITISH COMMONWEALTH PACIFIC AIRLINES") were split between Australia and NZ upon the dissolving of this airline.
TEAL then began to acquire L-188C ELECTRA's from the late 1950's, so, US rather than British aircraft types, became firmly established within its fleet from this period .... and which continued with the airlines acquisition of DC-8-52's during the mid 1960's (the COMET 4 was too small and short of range for our international needs and the VC10 was simply too late .... QANTAS, from the late 1950's, had actually recommended TEAL should follow its lead and buy B707's .... but again .... we Kiwi's are "a stubborn bunch" and like doing "our "own thing" in our "own way"), DC-10-30's during the 1970's, and B747-200B and B767-200ER's during the 1980's .... then so on, an so forth, in regard to B767-300ER, B777-200ER and B777-300ER, and finally our B787-9 acquisitions from the 1990's until the present day. Again .... all US aircraft types and not out of step with what most other airlines throughout the world have done since the 1960's regardless whether or not they're a member of the British Commonwealth.
NZNAC was formed upon the conclusion of WW2 .... and operated British DH FOX MOTH, DRAGON RAPIDE, DOMINE, HERON .... along with US C47/DC-3 and both L-10 ELECTRA and L-18 LOADSTAR propliners. With the dawning of the turboprop age, during the mid 1950's, aircraft re-equipment/fleet upgrading and expansion began to become very "politically interesting" .... "in the case of NZNAC" at least. The airline was intent upon buying turboprops for its longer ranging domestic main trunk routes. That's how it ended up with VISCOUNT 800's .... which pleased both the NZ and UK governments immensely given their acquisition was totally in line with NZ's "then" Buy British mentality.
Success of the VISCOUNT's demonstrated smaller twin-engine turboprops would also be suitable for shorter NZ domestic routes .... to replace HERON's and DC-3's. At this point the UK government attempted to "FORCE" the NZ government/NZNAC into acquiring HP HERALD's. NZNAC "RESISTED" this pressure though .... reminding the UK (1) the F27 (it's preferred option) had already proven itself since 1956; (2) the HERALD was, at this time, still undergoing flight testing; and (3) it/the F27 was powered by British RR Dart engines anyway, so, they/the UK were still getting something regardless of our determination to buy Dutch. The airline got NZ government approval and ordered a large number of F27's over time .... much to the distaste of the UK government.
Similar political manipulation again occurred during the mid 1960's too .... when NZNAC were intent upon acquiring jets. Again the UK government endeavored to force NZ into buying BAC ONE-ELEVEN's, and which the NZ government also entertained/"insisted" upon on behalf of the UK for a time .... until hierarchy within the airline convincingly pointed out (and quite correctly so, on the basis of their having already carefully analysed the B727-100, CARAVELLE, and DC-9-10 .... since politicians know nothing about aeroplanes) that the "yet to be built" B737-200 was "THE VERY BEST OPTION" for NZNAC. In particular the airline stressed the slat-less wing of the ONE-ELEVEN, and DC-9, couldn't promote either jet being able to fly slowly, and comfortably, enough when subjected to the worst of Wellington's legendary turbulence .... whereas the B737-200 could ....
NZWL ON BAD/ROUGH DAY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tV7AdKl5J0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulpOM-B7sAs
NZWL ON A BAD DAY - FROM A PAX PERSPECTIVE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkq2s4NlYXg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exxEtpacJk
This decision "DID NOT" amuse the UK government .... which then threatened to restrict NZ's trade quota, with the UK, if NZNAC didn't buy British. Again .... the "stubborn Kiwi resolve" prevailed and the airline bought B737-200's anyway (on the strength of known/proven B727-100 performance) .... and NZ never looked back prior to acquiring A320's during the early 1990's.
The "political games/manipulation" didn't end there though. NZNAC also required a B737-200 simulator for pilot training. It's options, at the time, were the US CONDUCTRON or British REDIFUSION products. A classic argument then erupted in regard to what the NZ government would allow its domestic airline to buy .... and which is recorded as having gone like this ....
The NZ TRANSPORT MINISTER summoned the NZNAC CEO (a government appointee) into his office stating .... "YOU GOT THE AEROPLANE YOU WANTED .... NOW WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING FOR THE BRITISH .... SO IN REGARD TO THE SIMULATOR YOU'LL BUY BRITISH AND LIKE IT"
To which the airline CEO simply responded .... "WE'LL BUY IT MINISTER .... BUT WE WON'T LIKE IT"
NZNAC did end up buying the British REDIFUSION version though .... and was quite satisfied with it until the 1980's when the airline again updated its simulator.
Mark C
AKL/NZ
Another video "basically" corroborating what I mentioned above .... in regard to NZNAC resisting NZ the governments pressure to buy British ....
NZNAC Essentially Sticking It To The NZ Government Of The Day In regard To What "It Wanted"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqSuKzF3qno
